Ecomyths is a blog designed to help people think for themselves. Empirical data are contrasted with theories to examine axiomatic myths: ideas taken to be so well accepted that they don't need to be proven. It seeks to change ideas, correct fallacies and challenge dominant constructs by having people read, think and reflect for themselves about contemporary issues. Facts don't change your perspective. Your perspective changes your facts.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Dioxin: exposing another ecomyth

Here is a good summary of the latest National Academy of Sciences review of dioxin, long touted as the standard for carcinogenic pollutants by environmentalists. Seems the science does not sustain the hysteria.

The effects of pollution on human health are difficult to measure as they are tempered by the dose/response relationship: simply put, how much are we exposed to, in what concentration and for how long. Environmentalists have made concerted efforts to ban and/or control all manner of substances, such as lawn pesticides, and when challenged about the veracity of their science, there has often been a reach for the ace card: "we don't want another dioxin" or "its just as bad as dioxin". Dioxin was the gold standard for environmentalist's claim of cancer causing pollutants. Mistakenly it seems.

Question: how long before the myth dies? Or will it persist and still be embedded in children's textbooks for years to come, despite the scientific evidence to the contrary?

About Me

Dr. L. Graham Smith has over thirty years experience as a researcher, teacher and consultant in resources management. The author of over 70 publications, his writings successfully balance academic and practical considerations and provide a systematic framework for empowering change. His areas of expertise include: environmental ideology; globalization; the dynamics of change; the design and implementation of strategic planning processes; sustainability and its implementation; individual and institutional capacity building; educational praxis and, skills development.

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Sustainability

Sustainability is the capacity of a system to engage in the complexities of continuous improvement consistent with deep values of human purpose. Fullan (2005)

Dynamism is Freedom

Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. Heinlein

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All you need is love

The more you love, the more you can love--and the more intensely you love. Nor is there any limit on how many you can love. If a person had time enough, he could love all of that majority who are decent and just. Heinlein.